ABSTRACT
Government’s strategies place the agriculture and rural sector soundly at the core of their development plans. Revenues from non-rice production are playing an increasingly significant role in the household economy. Despite Vietnam being a low-wage economy, export margins per ton are meagre and exporters depend on high volumes to stay competitive. Policy reforms and public investments in rural finance and rural infrastructure will reinforce other instruments - investments in research and extension; more efficient agricultural input and output markets; and a more supportive regulatory framework for small and Medium Enterprise development which seek to create opportunities in rural areas. A survey of SME enterprises showed that the management and ownership of these enterprises are male dominated. Microfinance activities can be extremely important to households with limited access to formal sector financial services, including the poor and women. In Vietnam, agro-processing accounts for two thirds of all rural industry enterprises.
